Joe Riley: United Utilities – up the creek without a paddle

UNITED Utilities, the regional water company that brought waterspouts and watersports to Huyton after a burst pipe flooded 60 homes, has been named by its industry watchdog as providing the worst service.

UNITED Utilities, the regional water company that brought waterspouts and watersports to Huyton after a burst pipe flooded 60 homes, has been named by its industry watchdog as providing the worst service.

In the 12 months to last April there was a torrent of 39,000 complaints.

Even so, the gushing PR department can be relied upon to turn the flood-tide.

For in May, they put out a statement saying that 2010/11 also saw a reduction of 85% (amended this week to 83%) in the number of customer grumbles actually investigated by the Consumer Council for Water (CC Water).

So, yes, you’ve got it: Despite the vast ‘improvement’ , they are still bottom of the league with customers.

All the blarney in the world cannot disguise that.

In September last year I reported how the company had hiked water rates by 6%, cut the equivalent of 500 full-time jobs after a 10% fall in a never-the-less whacking profit of £474m – and promptly doubled the then chief executive’s bonus.

Philip ‘Not So’ Green, the UK’s highest paid water boss, before being succeeded in March by former BAE executive Steve Mogford, had seen his bonus grow from £471,000 to £924,900.

That’s a lot of water under the bridge, which together with a salary of just under £800,000, made his total income worth £1.75m – an increase of 37% (and I haven’t even mentioned the shares package).

Two other executives at the Warrington-based company also received rises of more than a third.

Now UU’s Philip Green – not to be confused with high street billionaire retailer Sir Philip Green – though still not short of a bob or two – is to be given an honorary fellowship of Liverpool John Moores University on November 23, prior to delivering a Roscoe Lecture entitled Leadership, Philanthropy and Business.

Does this include the supply of free canoes for the good people of Huyton?